The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has appointed Andrew Rhodes as its new interim CEO.
A veteran of both the public and private sectors, Rhodes will join the regulator at the end of June before serving a fixed 18-month term as interim chief executive officer.
The UKGC said that Rhodes was chosen after a thorough search and highly competitive recruitment process that began in April following the abrupt departure of Neil MacArthur.
He will be based at the UKGC headquarters in Birmingham and will receive a salary of up to £150,000 a year.
While touting the role of interim CEO, UKGC said the successful candidate would join the regulator at an important time amid the UK government's revision of the Gambling Act 2005 and warned that it would be a "highly visible and closely monitored role".
Rhodes last served as a registrar and chief operating officer at Swansea University for three years from April 2018.
He also served two years as Director General of Operations for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), having previously served as Director of Social Services at the State Department.
Rhodes also spent over four years as COO of the Food Standards Agency.
UKGC interim CEO Andrew Rhodes
He is taking over duties previously held by UKGC Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner and Chief Operating Officer Sally Jones, who have served as head of the regulator together since McArthur left the company in March.
In a LinkedIn post, Rhodes said there is "a huge amount of work" to be done in his new role.
In a statement, he added: “The Gambling Commission is one of the most powerful and respected regulatory bodies in the world, which is why I am delighted to be joining the team at such an important time.
“Protecting the public and players from the harms associated with gambling will continue to be central to our work and I look forward to meeting people from across the industry and those with life experience to understand the challenges and opportunities, who are waiting ahead.
“This is a great time to be able to work in the field of gambling regulation. The revision of the Government's 2005 Gambling Law represents a fantastic opportunity to make real and sustainable improvements in the way gambling is provided and regulated.
“As a regulator, we have a unique and important role to play in the forefront of these changes,” Rhodes added.
The UKGC is currently addressing issues, including an upcoming review that could see the regulator stripped of some of its regulatory powers or replaced by a new body.
The regulator is also dealing with the fallout from the collapse of the Football Index business, with questions raised about the UKGC's regulatory role in the firm's demise.
Earlier this month, the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) commissioned lawyer Malcolm Sheehan, QC, to conduct an independent review of the BetIndex business, which includes a detailed analysis of UKGC practices and its relationships with other stakeholders both before and after its collapse. .
Sheehan will present his report later in the summer.